Douglas County, Missouri

Newspaper Tidbits

MOGenWeb Site, Johnna Quick -- Coordinator

 

Articles gleaned from various newspapers with a connection to Ozark County.


I am in the process of transcribing newspapers, and will post them by date. These links are to specific years:
1890s
1900
1901
1902
1970s


You can also check the Times Past column from the Ozark County Times, there are articles from various years.


From the St. Louis Christian Advocate, 10 May 1866, Page 6:
A complete and Authentic List of the Soldiers from Missouri, in the Confederate Service, who were either killed in battle, or died in hospital, during the late war, with the name and number of the regiments and companies to which they were attached.

Company “F”
Wm. Chrisman, Ozark Co., Mo., died of wound, Vicksburg, Miss., June 1, ‘63.
Thomas S. Felton, Ozark Co., Mo., killed Corinth Miss., October 3, ‘62.
Andrew Wilson, Ozark Co., Mo., captured Elk Horn, Ark., March 8, ‘62, died in prison.
George Alexander, Ozark Co., Mo., died Vaden, Miss., June 1, ‘63.



The Phelps County New Era, 15 Sep 1877, page 3:
Local News
--L.F. Parker returned yesterday morning from a trip to Gainesville, Ozark County. He reports considerable excitement in Douglass County over the preaching of one Cobb, a free lover. He also states that it is reported that he was taken out of his pulpit in Christian County by two masked men and has not been heard of since. It is supposed that these two men hung him.



From the Rolla New Era paper, 8 Jan 1881, Page 3:
The Gainesville New Era is a new candidate for public favor from Ozark county of which C. B. Storts is proprietor, and W.J. Orr is editor. It is the best paper that Ozark county has had and we hope to see it prosper.



From the Rolla New Era paper, 27 Aug 1881, Page 3:
[excerpt from Gainesville New Era]
Y.E. McClendon is the boss detective of this country and seems to know just how to make them know where they stand. We mean the law-breakers and bull-dozers.
M.H. Griffith, of Alton, Mo., was sentenced at the Ava court to six years imprisonment in the “pen” for changing the records of Douglas county. Griffith is an attorney.
A pistol, chisel and auger handle were taken out of the jail this week. They had been put in there to assist Belk in making his escape, but were discovered just in time to prevent it. The work had been commenced.
Beware of the “business man” who does not patronize his county paper. Such men never prosper, and you do not have to go away from Gainesville to see this fairly illustrated. The reason is that he does not deserve the patronage or even the recognition of men in our business circles. He is like the boy that fooled his time away winking at the girl in the dark--he may know what he is trying to do but nobody else does.



From the Rolla New Era paper, 21 Oct 1893:
A Sheriff Robbed.
Gainesville, Mo., Oct. 14--
W. C. Morrison, Collector of Ozark County, is out about $750. Burglars entered his residence and stole $350 in money and about the same amount in negotiable notes. No arrests have been made.



Ozark County News
March 29, 1883
In this issue we insert the professional card of W. J. Orr, lawyer. Mr. Orr is a studious and industrious attorney, and we are confident that business placed in his hands will receive due attention.

Sheriff Tate and Wm. H. Smith who have been to Kentucky to capture a man named Williams, charged with horse stealing in this county, arrived in town Thursday, bringing their man. Williams is now in jail awaiting further process of the law.

We are requested to announce that Eld. H. H. Hilton of Arkansas will preach here on Friday evening before the 4th Sunday in May and on the next day and Sunday at the head of Turkey Creek in the neighborhood of Wm. Wilson. Elder Hilton is a noted Baptist preacher and will doubtless have a good hearing.

A ball was given at the residence of Y. E. McClendon on last Monday evening, which proved an enjoyable affair to the numerous participants. Among those from a distance present, we noted H. H. Langston, U. S. Revenue Collector of Springfield, Col. Love and J. W. Pratt of West Plains; Thos. Lawrence and James Herd of Isabella.



Ozark County News
April 12, 1883
The finest cigars and liquors (beer included) kept at the White Saloon. J. M. Bunn smiles from behind the bar and will treat you politely.

A first class display of general merchandise at Wood & Reed’s will be open for public inspection during court week. You should not fail to call and see them.

Rev. Scoggin of Mt. Home, Ark., preached to a large congregation at the school house on Monday evening. The parson is remaining here this week, giving lessons in crayon portrait drawing at which he is adept.

Anything you need in the way of Dry Goods, Groceries, Drugs or Hardware is kept at the Red Store and sold as cheap as at any other place. While in at court, you are invited to give them a call.

Dr. Hyde and lady of Springfield are here on a visit. This was their home for so long, and they are so well and favorably known to the people of Ozark County that it must appear to them more like a home-coming than a visit.

Books, paper, pens, ink or anything in the line of stationery at Trantham’s. Good and cheap.

V. L. Penland of West Plains was in town Monday.

Buy a set of goblets – only 35 cents at Trantham’s.

Mrs. Cantrell, mother of Dr. J. K. Cantrell of this place, arrived here from West Plains last Sunday on a visit.

Two buckle plow shoes $1.30 at Red Store.

The peach crop is now considered safe and a heavy production of this delicious fruit is almost certain. Prepare for cobbler.

If you want a glass of cold Milwaukee Beer, call at the Gym Saloon.

Circuit court meets next Monday. A large attendance is not expected as farmers are very busy with their spring work.

Elder Walter Bean of the Christian Church will hold services at the residence of Mr. James Agee one mile south of town on the 5th Sunday in this month. All are invited.



Ozark County News
May 3, 1883
Lower Lick Creek or as Mr. James Lester would say, “Lower Egypt” has a very good school taught by James T. White at the campgrounds. The first month of school ended yesterday.



Ozark County News
May 17, 1883
The curbing of the public well needs repairs.

The court house begins to need a fresh coat of paint.

It is nearly time to talk about celebrating the 4th.

A. Dahl of Caney post office has established a store at that place.

The court house portico is getting shaky, and it is thought to be dangerous.

Dr. Small reports the birth of a girl to the wife of John Medlock of Bridges township.

There will be no adjourned session of the county court this summer. This will save some dollars for the county.

In the locals last week in regard to Butler Cockrum, we should have said he escaped from the penitentiary in Arkansas instead of that of Missouri.

A destructive cyclone visited Kansas City one day last week. Some 60 houses were destroyed, a number of people killed and others wounded.

A party at Mr. Agee’s in honor of a visit from some of his friends from Pettis County on Monday evening is said to have been a very enjoyable affair.

Esq. Eli Wilson and Mr. Rogers of Bridges Creek were in town last Tuesday. They say farm work in that part of the county is progressing finely.

Rev. Walter Besh will preach at 4 p.m. Saturday before the 4th Sunday and also at 11 a.m. the next day at the residence of James Agee.

Robert Q. Gilliland and William H. Smith returned from Ark. last Saturday after an unsuccessful endeavor to buy cattle. The cow trade is slow in that state now, and prices are high.

Notwithstanding the overflow of Lick Creek (as well as all other streams in Ozark Co.), Wood and Reed will continue as heretofore to please their customers by keeping the best goods at low prices.

W. T. Conkin of St. Ledger, has had a long and severe siege of sickness but at last reports was thought to be better.

The mail carrier on the Marshfield route last Wednesday so crippled his horse that he had to leave him and carry the mail to the hack stand on his shoulder. The consequence was that we got no mail from the north on Thursday.

License was issued on Monday by County Clerk Gilliland for the marriage of Mr. Robertson known as the artist, to Mrs. Sarah McClure formerly Mrs. Fore, of Waterville.

In the recent overflow, I lost a considerable amount of cotton. This was my dependence to raise some money at once. Now that is gone, and I must look to those who owe me. So come in and settle at once as I need the money.
J. T. Arnold



Ozark County News
May 31, 1883
Bratton Spring Creek is said to be higher this week than ever before, and a great deal of damage was done to fencing.



Ozark County News
June 14, 1883
It was rumored here the first of the week that the mills at Rockbridge were washed away by the recent overflow of Spring Creek, but we have it on reliable authority that such is not the case.



Ozark County News
June 14, 1883
Lick Creek has overflowed three times since corn was planted. Notwithstanding the corn and other crops look well.



Ozark County News
June 21, 1883
Dr. Basford reports the birth of a girl to the wife of William White of this township.



Ozark County News
June 28, 1883
Gainesville is now without a school. Mr. Lane’s school closed last week. We presume the public school will open before long, but no date has been set for the event, and we are not aware that a teacher has been employed.

The public well is to be cleaned out and a new curbing (?) made. It is said that a certain youngster threw a dead cat in the well, and the same has recently been drawn out. There is no telling what ought to be done with a boy who would do such a thing.

Wm. H. Smith and Robert Q. Gilliland returned Wednesday with 250 head of young cattle which had been gathered up in Oregon County and other places. The cattle are mostly yearlings and will be herded here for some time.

No use to ask for credit at the Red Store. All classes of goods sold too cheap to permit the credit system. If you have cash, stock or produce of any kind, you can get a bargain at the Red Store.

The North Fork has again been up and wagons loaded with goods laid over on yon side this week.



Ozark County News
July 12, 1883
N. E. Reynolds of Summerset was in town Tuesday after his mule which had been posted by Robert Grisham.

Henry Andrews of Howell County with his family visited his brother, J. L. Andrews, of this place this week.

Mountain Home, Ark., is building a Baptist Church house. When will any society in Gainesville build a church?

An old man from Taney County was in town this week after some stray horses posted by Wm. Luna last November.

Y. E. McClendon, B. W. Hogard, Geo E. Janney, E. E. Conkin and Edward Coker took a trip to West Plains this week.

Wm. T. Conkin, the Assessor, was in town this week. He will commence the assessment of the county next week. W. P. Comer will probably assist him.

We are informed that B. V. Morris, one of the proprietors of the Rockbridge mills, on last Monday fell on his saw (which was not in motion) inflicting a painful, though not a dangerous, wound in one of his legs just below the knee.



Ozark County News
July 19, 1883
The number of school children in Ozark County, according to the enumerations of the several district clerks, amounts to 2069. Some territory yet remains unorganized, and it is safe to estimate the entire populations of the county at 8,000.

John H. Beach had the misfortune on last Saturday to lose his mare. He had been working her to a thresher, and he thinks she got too warm and drank too much water, shortly after which she died. This works a hardship on Mr. Beach as it breaks his team.



Ozark County News
Aug. 9, 1883
West Plains has challenged Gainesville for a shooting match. The challenge has been accepted, and the match will come off at the mouth of Lick Creek the 18th. Boys, clean up your old rifles and show West Plains that they can’t shoot if they can play base ball.

Mr. James Agee has purchased of Dr. Cantrell of St. Ledger the famous Alsup horse, Bob, for a consideration of $250. Bob is the fastest quarter horse in this section, and we congratulate Mr. Agee on securing him on such reasonable figures.

John Hensley is in jail at this place charged with breaking into Thos. Mishler’s store at the mouth of Lick Creek on July 21. He was captured on Bridges Creek on July 31 but broke custody the same day and was not captured again until last Tuesday when he was caught near Duck’s Mill east of the North Fork by Hence Casey who brought him to town. His trial comes off today.

Ex Co. Judge A. B. Peacock was in town Wednesday and informed us of a serious affray which occurred in the west end of the county last Saturday between two young men named Connor and Hampton. They were at Connor’s house when the quarrel came up, which ended in Connor striking Hampton a terrible blow on the head with an iron wedge. Mr. Peacock did not know the particulars of the quarrel. The wound is not believed to be fatal. Connor was arrested.

A man named Matthew Smith, who is son-in-law of H. N. Sheppard of this county, was this week arrested on a writ sworn out by Mr. Sheppard, charging him with embezzlement and abandoning his wife and child. It seems that some time last fall, Mr. Sheppard fitted Smith out for a peddling expedition, loaning him, among other things, a mule. Smith departed, leaving his wife and child with her father. He did not return, and he is charged with converting the mule to his own benefit. Smith is to have an examination this before the justice.



Ozark County News
Aug. 16, 1883
Esq. Wattenbarger’s new buggy approaches completion. It is a model of workmanship built by himself and the local workmen.

Col W. A. Love, of the U. S. Revenue force, in company with Mr. R. M. Ballard of Kansas City with the Aultman (?) & Taylor Thresher Co. of Mansfield, Ohio, are in town.

In Esq. Wattenbarger’s court last Saturday, John Hensley waived examination to the charge of breaking custody and in default of bail and was committed to await the action of the grand jury.

Matthew Smith, charged with embezzlement, was released.

Luke Cope, charged with carrying concealed weapons, took a change of venue to Esq. Simms’ court. Esq. Simms is away, and we do not know what is to become of the case.

Parties from this county who attended the Springfield re-union (Wilson’s Creek battlefield) have all returned and report the affair a grand success. Probably 15,000 visitors were in attendance embracing several hundreds of the participants in the battle of Wilson Creek. Many distinguished men from all parts of the country were present.



Ozark County News
Aug. 23, 1883
A damage suit has been brought against H. N. Sheppard by Matthew Smith, his son in law, for malicious prosecution. The petition, which was filed in Esq. Wattenbarger’s court this week by W. J. Orr, the attorney for plaintiff, prays for $10,000 as damages sustained by Smith in the recent action against him by Mr. Sheppard.



Ozark County News
Sept. 6, 1883
Mr. E. Newsom of Pike County has undertaken to teach a two-months term of school here with the understanding that if he gives general satisfaction as a teacher, he is to have the public school.

John Harris has opened up a new blacksmith shop at Lovelace’s old stand and has a new outfit entirely. Having 12 years experience in the trade, Mr. Harris is a good workman and will no doubt control a fair share of the custom.

On Thursday a team ran away with a wagon and driver, John Piland. Starting at Arnold’s store, they dashed up the street to the post office, and it was feared Piland would be hurt. No damage was done, however, except breaking the wagon tongue.

Adam Fleetwood and Mrs. Maloney, who were last week arrested for living in adultery, practically ended the case against them by getting married last Tuesday. Esq. Wattenbarger tied the knot, and the loving couple departed in happy spirits and a two-horse wagon.

A boy was born to the wife of Y. E. McClendon. Fighting weight 10 lbs. Mc steps high.



Ozark County News
Oct. 4, 1883
The circuit court docket for this term is a light one. Ten state cases and 19 civil suits appear on the docket. There are three cases of felony besides that of Hensley, whose case has not yet come before the grand jury.

Following will be found the names of the grand jury for the coming term of circuit court: J. J. Piland, S. E. Norris, S. L. Futrell, B. B. Jones, James Ragsdale, Alvis Bell, W. W. Luna, David F. Bennett, Wm. G. Pumphrey, W. P. Hawkins, James D. Scott and C. B. Stevens.

The school at Gainesville, by Mr. E. Newsom, is progressing with marked success. Mr. Newsom is proving himself the right man in the right place both in his methods of teaching and school governance. Fifty names appear on the roll, and more may confidently be expected. We would like to see Gainesville become famous for its educational enterprise.



Ozark County News
Oct. 25, 1883
Mr. Riley Compton, who has been running the Gainesville Hotel for some time will go out of that business and move to his farm on the North Fork next Tuesday. B. W. Hogard has rented the hotel and will take possession immediately after Mr. Compton retires.

During circuit court Sheriff Tate was called away to convey John Hensley to the penitentiary. It was arranged that during his absence Julia McCool should stay with his family. It turned out, however, that the sheriff had not been on the road long before Miss McCool left town in company with J. B. Bandy, taking a considerably sum of money belonging to Mr. Tate. When the sheriff returned, he set out in pursuit in company with prosecuting attorney McClendon. On Wednesday Sheriff Tate returned with the woman, having captured her at Eureka Springs. The sheriff started again Thursday morning accompanied by Wm. H. Smith, and the news comes now that they caught Bandy some 13 miles from Eureka. Since writing the above, Mr. Tate has returned, affirming the report of the capture of Bandy.



Ozark County News
Nov. 22, 1883
J. T. Maupin of St. Ledger has disposed of part of his farm through the Real Estate Agency of Conklin & McClendon, Mr. ?? Stout being the purchaser. Mr. Stout will go extensively into the stock business.

Jack Patrick, who has been in Texas for some time, has returned to Ozark County, where he intends to make his future home. He says this is good enough country for him. Jack is not the first man who has returned after leaving Ozark County.

Born to the wife of Henry McDonald of Bridges township, Nov. 17, a boy.

Dr. Basford reports the following: To wife of Sylvester Hughes of Bridges township, Nov. 18, a boy. To wife of W. A. Miller, Bayou township, Nov. 18, a girl.



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